Surveys of and interviews with first-year, ENGR 106 students and
second-year, CHE 205 students have revealed much about how students form
their engineering efficacy beliefs. Results have shown that while first-year
students base their efficacy beliefs primarily on vicarious experiences, secondyear
CHE 205 students place more importance on mastery experiences. It was
also found that many first-year students report little support from their
instructors while second-year students received significant boosts in their
efficacy based on genuine instructor concern for their success. This was found
to be particularly true for women. Quantitative results revealed that although
students’ efficacy tends to increase as they advance in the engineering
curriculum, men consistently report higher levels of efficacy than women.
These findings have been used to suggest ways that instructors can help
strengthen the efficacy beliefs of their students. This information can guide the
formation of proactive measures and intervention techniques for the promotion
of positive self-efficacy beliefs among students, aimed at ultimately increasing
their achievement, success, and retention.